Wire measuring and cutting machine



pni 8 ,1924a ,489,984.

' W. F, DATISMAN ET AL WIRE MEASURING AND CUTTING MACHINE Amin s 1924'oW. F. DATISMAN ET AL WIRE MEASURING AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9,1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WVG/hem W. F. .DATISMAN ET AL WIRE MEASURING ANDCUTTING MACHINE l4 sheetssheet Filed NOV. 9, 1922 Apri@ s, 1924.2,489,984

W. F. DATISMAN -ET AL WIRE MEASURING AND CUTTINGv MACHINE Filed Nov. Q1922 4 www-sheet 4 W jai/Swan Patented Apr. 55, 1924.

Uitl@ STATES WILLIAMF. DATISMAN .AND PETER M. HEINZ, OF DUBUQUE, OWA.

WIRE MEASURNG AND CUTTING MACHINE.

Application led November 9, 1922.

T all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, 1V ILLIAM F. DATIS- MAN and PETER M. HEINZ,citizens of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county ofDubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulimprove-A ments in Vire Measuring and Cutting Machines; and we dodeclare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the1o invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting wire intopredetermined lengths, one of the principal objects being to provide amachine of this character which may be readily adapted for cutting thewire into a wide variety of lengths.

A further object is to provide a novel form of receiver for the cutlengths of Wire, provided with automatic dumping means for` dischargingthem at spaced intervals.

An automatic intermittently operating clutch is provided for operatingthe wire cutter at predetermined intervals and a still further aim ofthe invention is to provide a unique arrangement of parts whereby thisclutch and in fact all parts of the machine will be properly operated.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations looking against opposite sides ofthe machine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view as indicated by line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig.2.

4Figure 6 is a duplicate of Fig. 5 with the exception that itillustrates a different position of parts.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a mainframe which may be of any desirable construction, it being here shown asprovided with supporting legs 2. Suitably mounted upon the well knownform, including a plunger 4 operable by means of an eccentric or thelike 5 on a transverse shaft 6. This shaft is normally idle but by meansof an automatic clutch yet to be described, is brought into frame 1, isa wire cutter 3 of any desired or- Serial No. 599,945.

play at the proper time to operate the wire cutter 3.

The numeral 7 designates a stepped drive pulley which is loose upon theshaft 6 and carries a main drive pinion 8. One end of this pulley isprovided with a plurality of teeth ,or projectingpins 9 which areadapted to co-operate with a normally retracted pin 10 carried by acylindrical head 11 which is secured upon the shaft 6 (see Fig. 3). Inthe present showing, the pin 10 passes across a circumferential groove12 inthe head 11 and is provided with a notch having a beveled side wall13. This beveled side wall of the notch co-acts with the beveled upperend 14 of a vertical lever 15 which is fulcrumed to the frame 1 asindicated at 16. A coil spring 17 is connected at one end to lever 15yand is anchored to the frame 1 at its other end, whereby to normallydraw the lever toward the bottom of the groove 12 thereby holding thepin 10 retracted against the action of its .comparatively lightprojecting spring 18 which is confined in the head 11. An appropriatecontractible brake band 19 surrounds the drum 11 to normally hold thisdrum and the shaft 6 against turning and to bring them to a standstillas soon as the pin 10 is withdrawn from engagement with the teeth 9. Wehave here shown the brake 19 carried by the upper end of the standard 2Owhich rises from the frame 1 and forms one bearing for the shaft 6.

At 21, we have shown a horizontal bar associated with the lever 15 forreleasing this lever from engagement with the notch 13 of the pin l0,thereby controlling the clutch connection between the pulley 7 and theshaft 6. A quick-detachable connection is provided-between the bar 21and the lever 152 and preferably consists of a notch 22 in the loweredge of the bar 21 receiving the leg 23 on the lever 15, so thatco-acting thrust shoulders are provided between said bar and lever. Atthe proper time, the bar is longitudinally moved with the result thatthe connection 22--23 moves the lever 15 against the tension of itsspring 17, thereby permitting the clutch to come into play to drive theshaft 6 and operate the cutter 3. As soon as this releasing of the lever15 has vbeen eiected, the connection 22-23 is severed under theiniiuence of a cam slot 24 iny the bar 21, co-acting with the pin 25carried CII by the standard 20, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4.By the time this disengagement of the bar 21 and the lever 15 has takenplace, the moving means for said bar has ceased to function and this baris returned to its initial position by a suitable coil spring 26, whenthe proper time arrives.

In the present form of our machine, we

provide a one-way sliding connection 27 between the bar 21 and anupright operating lever 28 for said bar, this lever being fulcrumed at29 on the frame 1 and having its lower end disposed in the path of thecam 30 on the transverse shaft 31. We also pivot a link 32 to the lowerend portion of the lever 28 as indicated at 33 and provide a one-waysliding connection 34 between the other end of said link and the bar 21,a coil spring 35 being connected with said link and bar to normallyretain them in the position shown in Fig. 4. If the cam shaft 31 rotatesin the direction of the arrow a of Fig. 4, t-he sliding connection 27comes into play and the link 32 pulls upon the bar 21 when the lever 28is rocked by the cam 30, then pulling upon and releasing the lever 15.If the cam shaft 31 travels in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 4, thesliding connection 34 comes into play and the lever 28 acts directlyupon the bar 21 to move the latter and release the above named lever 15.It will thus be seen that regardless ofthe direction in which themachine may be driven, the clutch will be brought into play at thedesired interval.

We have shown the cam shaft 31 provided with a spur gear 36 meshing witha similar gear 37 on an idle shaft 38, one end of this idle shaft beingprovided with a pinion 39 meshing with a gear 40, this gear being drivenby a pinion 41. This pinion 41 is carried by a transverse shaft 42having a gear 43 which meshes with the pinion 8.

The gear is detachably mounted at 44 upon a gear carrying plate 45,which may be pivoted upon the axis of the pinion 41, a bolt 46 andcurved slot 47 being provided in order that the carrying plate may benormally held against movement. By this arrangement if .it is desired tochange the intervals at which the cutter 3 operates, the pinion 41 andgears 40 and 39 may be detaclied and others substituted of a differentsize. The slots 44a in plate 45 permit a pair of intermeslied gears (notshown) to be substituted for gear 40 if desired, which would reverse themovement of shafts 38 and 31.

At 50, a track is shown for a feed carriage 51 having a wire gripper 52vco-operable with a stationary gripper 53. A pitman 54 is connected tothe carriage 51 at one end, and at its other end is formed with spacedopenings 55, any one of which may receive a wrist pin 56 on anadjustable throw crank. By providing the adjustment -56 for the pitman54, the carriage 51 may be moved close to thek gripper 53 if small gagewire is being used, to prevent buckling. However, if much stiffer wireis used and the stroke of the carriage 51 is to be rather long, thecarriage may be adjusted away from the gripper 53.

In providing the adjustable throw crank, we preferably make use of acrank arm 57 extending diametrically across the outer side of the flywheel 58 on the transverse shaft 59, this shaft being provided with agear 60 meshing with the gear 43 of the shaft 42. A carriage 61 isadjustable along the crank arm 57 preferably by means of a screw 62,said carriage 61 carrying the wrist pin 56. It will thus be seen that byadjusting the screw 62, the stroke of the feed carriage 51 may beaccurately adjusted.

Attention may here be directed to the fact that the pulley 7 constitutesa common driving member both for the wire feeding means and the wirecutting means and while said feeding means will stroke at regularintervals, the lengths of the stroke may be varied to control the amountof wire fed through the cutter' 3. Also, by substituting a gear andpinion of a different size for the gear 39 and the pinion 41, theintervals at which the cutter 3 will operate, may readily be controlledand it will thus be seen that the cutter 3 does not necessarily operateupon each stroke of the feed carriage 51, thus the machine may be setfor cutting the wire to any desired length.

In line with the wire being fed, we provide a receiving tube 63 which isprovided in one side with a longitudinal discharge slot 64, normallypositioned substantially as seen in Fig. 5, said tube being rotatable inan outer guard tube 632l having a. slot 642L in its lower side. One endof the tube 63 is provided with a gear 65 meshing with a gear segment 66on the end of a. longitudinal lever 67, this lever being suitablyfulcrumed upon the frame of the machine as indicated at 68 and beingconnected by a vertical link or arm 69 to the vertically movable plungerof the wire cutter 3. Thus, as the tube 63 is rotatably mounted,stroking of the plunger of the cutter 3 will rock said tube to theposition of Fig. 6, after each length of wire is cut7 thereby movingtheslot .64 downwardly into register with slot 64a and discharging thecut length of wire.

The numerals 70 designate a pair of vertical bars suitably secured toone side of the frame 1 and bent substantially upon themselves at theirupper portions to provide bearings 71 which non-rotatably hold the tube63a, the free ends of said bars being eX- tended downwardly from thebearings 71 to provide guide arms 72 parallel with the upright portionsof thel bars 70 for guiding the discharged lengths of Wire Ontohookshaped rests 73 which are formed by upwardly bending the lower endsof said bars. These rests are spaced apart so that a number of the cutlengths of wire held thereby, may easily be grasped in one hand andremoved.

ln connection with the features of construction above set forth, weprefer to provide suitable wire guiding and straightening rollers 74 ofany well known or desired type.

A machine of the character set forth is well adapted for cutting wire ofdifferent gages into any desired lengths and as excellent results havebeen obtained from the details disclosed, they lare preferably followed.However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minorchanges may be made.

I claim:

l. A machine of the class described comprising intermittently operatingwire cutting means, means for intermittently feeding wire to saidcutting means, a receiving tube for the cut lengths of wire, the openinner end of said tube being in substantially axial alinement with thepath on which the wire is fed and being provided in one side with a slotthrough which the cut lengths of wire are discharged, and means forrotating said tube atpredetermined intervals to dispose said slot indischarging position.

2. A machine of the class described comprising means for intermittentlyadvancing a wire along a straight path, a tube into which predeterminedlengths of the wire are successively fed, said tube having alongitudinal slot in one side, means for cutting off the lengths of wireafter feeding to said tube, a pinion on said tube, a. gear segmentmeshing with said pinion, and means connecting said segment operativelywith said cutting means for turning said tube to discharge the cutlengths of wire through its slot.

3. A machine of the class described comprising means for intermittentlyadvancing a wire along a straight path, a tube into which predeterminedlengths of the wire are successively fed, said tube having alongitudinal slot in one side, means for cutting off the lengths of wireafter feeding to said tube, a pinion on said tube, a lever connectedwith and operated by said cutting means, and a gear segment on saidlever meshing with said pinion for turning said tube to discharge thecut lengths of wire through its slot.

4. A machine of the class described comprising means for intermittentlyadvancing a wire along a straight path, a tube into which predeterminedlengths of the wire are successively fed, said tube having alongitudinal slot in one side, means for cutting off the lengths of wireafter feeding to said tube, a non-rotatable slotted tube receiving therst named tube, rigidly supported upstanding bars having bearings attheir upper ends holding said non-rotatable tube and having upwardlyfacing rests at their lower ends, and means for turning said first namedtube to discharge the wire through its slot and the slot of saidnon-rotatable tube onto said rests.

5. A structure as specified in claim l; together with a slotted guardtube around said first named tube to normally prevent springing of thewire, from the slot of said first named tube, the two slots coming intoregister when the iirst named tube is turned.

6. A machine of the class described comprising means for intermittentlyadvancing a wire along a straight path, a pair of tubes one within theother into which predetermined lengths of the wire are fed and then cutolf, said tubes having longitudinal slots normally out of register, andmeans for relatively turning said tubes to register their slots fordischarging each cut length of wire.

7. A wire cutting machine comprising intermittently operating wirecutting means, intermittently operating wire feeding means, and meanssynchronizing the movements of `said cutting and feeding means includingmeans whereby the intervals at which said cutting means operates may beshortened or lengthened independent of said feeding means.

8. A wire cutting machine comprising intermittently operating wirecutting means, intermittently operating wire feeding means, a train ofgearing for synchronizing said feeding and cutting means, including agear in mesh with two pinions, said gear and one of said pinions beingdetachable to permit substitution of a gear and pinion of another size,a carrier for said gear swingable about the axis of said one pinion, andmea-ns for holding said carrier normally against movement.

9. A wire cutting machine comprising a clutch-driven, cutter, aclutch-controlling member movable in one direction for throwing thecutter clutch into operation, a rotary shaft for effecting movement ofsaid controlling member, driving means for the cutter clutch and saidshaft including a common driving member, and operating connectionsbetween said shaft and said clutchcontrolling member for moving thelatter in said one direction regardless of the direction in which saiddriving member and said shaft rotate.

l0. A wire cutting machine comprising a clutch-driven cutter, aclutch-controlling member movable in one direction for throwing thecutter clutch into operation, a rotary shaft for eecting movement ofsaid controlling member, driving means for the cutter clutch and saidshaft including a common driving member, a, level slidably connected etone end with said clutch Controlling membei1 and ulerumed between itsends on a stationary support, means on said shaft foi' Co-eotion Withthe other end of said lever to roel; the latter, and a link oonneetingsaid other end of said lever with Said Clutch controlling member, oneend of said link having a sliding connection with 10 the associatedpart.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aiixed our signatures.

IWILLIAM F. DATISMAN. PETER M. HEINZ.

